- Strength training isn't just about
throwing big weights around.
It's also important to work on those finer movements
that activate muscles, and give you control
and stability around your joints.
Which is where this thing comes in.
The theraband, or resistance band.
Now it may not look like much,
but it does a heck of a lot.
And the nice thing with it is,
it's cheap, and it's easy to take anywhere you like.
Now, you may have seen these before
in a variety of different colours.
And that's not for looks.
It's actually for varying resistance.
So here are a few useful exercises
that you can do with a theraband for triathlon.
Okay, let's start with some shoulder exercises.
These will help to prevent that dreaded swimmer's shoulder,
as well as improve the catch and pull phase
of your stroke.
Simply loop the theraband around the door handle
or rail, as I am.
Stand back to put some tension in the band.
And now you can perform some exercises.
First up, we have the rotator cuff exercise.
Stand tall with your shoulders set back
to a neutral position.
Holding the theraband, bring your elbow
directly out to the side,
and in line with your shoulder.
Start with your forearm parallel to the ground,
then rotate your forearm as far as you can to vertical.
Make sure it's a slow and controlled movement.
Then, rotate your arm back down to the starting position.
A good starting point is two or three sets
of 10 repetitions on each arm.
Moving on, now for a similar exercise.
The external shoulder rotation.
Stand side-on with your elbow tight to your side
at a 90 degree angle.
Again, we're going to make controlled movement
out to the side, as far as you can,
without losing form.
Perform 10 reps, then switch arms,
and repeat through two to three times.
Next up, we're gonna switch things around,
and do the internal shoulder rotation.
It's the same controlled movement,
but this time inwards.
Gonna start with our hand facing outwards,
and we're gonna rotate inwards as far as we can,
in a controlled movement.
Again, perform 10 reps, then switch your arm,
and repeat through two to three times.
The clam exercise focuses on your glute muscles,
which actually tend to be the cause
of a lot of lower limb injuries.
The issue is, when the glutes are too weak,
or simply don't activate.
Which is hardly a surprise considering most of us
spend a whole day at work, sat at a desk,
very rarely using our glutes.
To do a clam, you need to lie on your side,
knees bent, and soles of your feet
in line with your spine.
Make sure your hips are level,
and not tilted too far forward or backwards.
Now, perform a clam by lifting your upper knee
by using the glute muscle.
Lift the knee as high as you can
with control, whilst holding your form.
Now for the lateral walk,
which is also called the monster walk,
and you'll see why.
Loop the band just above your knees,
or just above your ankles.
Keep your back straight,
but put a slight bend in your knees.
Now start to step laterally,
always keeping tension through the band.
And then repeat back the opposite direction.
I come from a swimming background
so I have quite floppy ankles,
so this is something I've done quite a lot of.
This exercise will help to improve your ankle strength,
and stability.
Okay, place the band around the outside of your foot.
Then, rotate your foot, from the ankle,
pulling against the band.
You should feel it down the outside of your ankle,
and the lower leg.
Then, place the band around the inside of your foot.
Again, rotate your foot from the ankle,
but this time inwards.
You should feel it down the inside of your ankle,
and the inside of your leg.
Obviously you can attach the other end of the band
around something sturdy,
or you can attach it round to your other foot,
as I'm demonstrating here.
Now for the hamstring curl.
Hold the band around the foot
of your non-working leg.
Or, around something strong.
Then, attach the other end of the band
around the ankle of your working leg.
Lying on your belly with your legs outstretched,
bend the working leg from the knee,
as if you're trying to kick your bum.
As with all the exercises,
keep it controlled and smooth,
then slowly lower the leg back down.
Repeat this through 10 times on one leg, then switch,
and repeat through two to three times.
So there we go.
There's some great exercises
that can help to keep you injury free,
and improve your triathlon performance.
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just click down here.